Nespresso and UNSW discover ways to use polymer-laminated aluminium packaging PLAP

Nespresso and the UNSW Smart Centre have found new ways to use polymer-laminated aluminium packaging (PLAP) materials. They have discovered a new way to use PLAP materials in steel making. 

The new idea comes with more widespread applications impacting Australia’s aluminum recycling and smelting sectors.

Hub and Smart Centre director, Professor Veena Sahajwalla, said, “For the first time, we have demonstrated that using waste food packaging containing aluminium, such as chip packets and spent coffee capsules, can become a useful resource in the steelmaking process,” she said. 

“Our multi-material waste containing aluminium could be useful in steel making. This type of quality waste material, not subject to conventional recycling, could be transformed into a resource, suitable for the chemical reactions needed to remove oxygen in the steelmaking process.

“The benefits of using discarded waste PLAP materials provides a wonderful solution for food and coffee packaging. We now know from this research that this waste material is an under-valued resource.” 

Nespresso launches innovative ways to minimize wastage from its single-used capsules. The company displays a bicycle made primarily of recycled capsules in Amsterdam. 

Marta Fernandes, technical and quality manager at Nespresso Australia and Oceania, said, “Recycling and helping to find circular outcomes for waste materials are a big part of the company’s broader sustainability efforts, which include bringing capsules made from 80-per-cent recycled aluminium to the Australian market, sourcing over 94 per cent of coffee through its AAA Sustainable Quality program and committing to be fully carbon neutral by 2022.